The [[Elves]] were the fairest creatures in [[Arda]], a far more beautiful race than [[Men]], and generally tall (about six feet). Among them, [[Calaquendi|those]] who had gone to [[Valinor]] were the fairest and had the greatest skill of body.

Elves had keener senses, sight and hearing than Men, were slender, graceful yet strong, but were resistant to extremes of nature, illness and disease. However many [[Noldor]] died at the crossings of [[Helcaraxe]].

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The Elves were a far more beautiful race than Men, and generally taller. Among them, those who had gone to Valinor were the fairest and had the greatest skill of body.

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=== Pointed ears ===

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Practical considerations, including a number of occasions where Men were mistaken for Elves (most notably [[Túrin|Túrin Turambar]]), suggest that the points of difference between Elves and Men, must have been subtle.

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There are no explicit references to pointed Elvish ears in ''The Lord of the Rings'' or ''[[The Silmarillion]]''. It was stated elsewhere that "the Quendian (Elvish) ears were more pointed and leaf-shaped than Human." However, practical considerations, including a number of occasions where Men were mistaken for Elves (most notably [[Túrin Turambar]]), suggest that the points must have been subtle.

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=== Hair colour ===

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== Pointed ears ==

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Elven hair colour is quite varied and complex. In general, the [[Vanyar]] were golden-haired, and the other Elves (including [[Noldor]], [[Sindar]], and [[Avari]]) had dark or even black hair, although some of the Teleri had silver hair. [[Lúthien Tinúviel]] and her remote descendant [[Arwen Undómiel]], both described as the fairest of all Elves, were dark haired.

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If Elvish ears were pointed is open for speculation,<ref name=Dunkerson>{{webcite|author=Conrad Dunkerson|articleurl=http://tolkien.slimy.com/essays/Ears.html|articlename=Do the Elves in Tolkien's stories have pointed ears?|dated=|website=[http://tolkien.slimy.com/ The Tolkien Meta-FAQ]|accessed=15 February 2012}}</ref><ref name=Martinez>{{webcite|author=[[Michael Martinez]]|articleurl=http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2011/09/21/do-tolkiens-elves-have-pointy-ears/|articlename=Do Tolkien’s Elves Have Pointy Ears?|dated=21 September 2011|website=[http://middle-earth.xenite.org/ Middle.earth.Xenite.org]|accessed=15 February 2012}}</ref> but it should be noted that there are no explicit references to pointed Elvish ears in ''[[The Hobbit]]'', ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' or ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.

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This is not the full picture, however: [[Finarfin]], the youngest son of [[Finwë]], and his descendants (such as [[Galadriel]]) had blond hair on account of Finwë's second wife, [[Indis]] of the Vanyar. [[Idril]], the daughter of [[Turgon]], had golden hair inherited from her mother, [[Elenwë]] of the Vanyar. Even the sons of [[Fëanor]], the eldest Noldorin prince, were not all dark-haired: [[Maedhros]] and the twins [[Amrod]] and [[Amras]] had auburn hair, from their grandfather [[Mahtan]]. Fëanor's son [[Celegorm]] had blond hair, thus his epithet ''the Fair'' in contrast to his brother, [[Caranthir]] ''the Dark''.

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It was stated in early linguistic writings that "the [[Quendi|Quendian]] ears were more pointed and leaf-shaped than [[Men|Human]]<!-- Please do not remove "Human" or change it to [?Human], the reading was confirmed in VT45. (User:Morgan) -->."<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 368 (roots LAS<sup>1</sup> and LAS<sup>2</sup>)</ref><ref>{{VT|45a}}, p. 26</ref> Answering to a question on [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] ears, [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] wrote that these were "only slightly pointed and 'elvish'".<ref>{{L|27}}</ref> Some fans take this to mean that Elvish ears were pointed, while others argue that it is an ambiguous statement.<ref name=Dunkerson/><ref name=Martinez/>

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Additionally, a silver hair colour existed in the royal houses of the Sindar, with [[Thingol]], [[Círdan]], and [[Celeborn]] all described as having silver hair. [[Galadriel]] displayed an extremely rare hair colour nowhere else observed: "silver-golden" hair, said to be dazzlingly beautiful ("blending the light of the [[Two Trees]], [[Telperion]] and [[Laurelin]]"), which may have been a result of her unusual mixed Noldoin-Vanyarin-Telerin heritage (her mother was the niece of [[Thingol]]). Thranduil, father of Legolas and a Sindarin Elf, is described as having blond hair in ''The Hobbit'', but his son Legolas' own hair colour is not recorded.

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== Hair colour ==

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Elven hair colour is quite varied and complex. In general, the [[Vanyar]] were golden-haired, and the other Elves (including [[Noldor]], [[Sindar]], and [[Avari]]) had dark (brown) or even black hair,<ref>{{PE|17}}, pp. 118, 125</ref><ref group=note>[[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] notes in one manuscript that "''no Elf had absolute black hair''" ({{PE|17}}, p. 125).</ref> although some of the Teleri (including [[Celeborn]]) had silver hair. [[Lúthien|Lúthien Tinúviel]] and her remote descendant [[Arwen|Arwen Undómiel]], both described as the fairest of all Elves, were dark haired.

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===Eye colour===

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This is not the full picture, however: [[Míriel Serindë]], a Noldo and the first wife of [[Finwë]] and mother of [[Fëanor]] described as having a silvery hair.<ref>{{MR|P3I6}}</ref> [[Finarfin]], the youngest son of Finwë, and his descendants (such as [[Galadriel]]) had golden hair on account of Finwë's second wife, [[Indis]] of the Vanyar. [[Idril]], the daughter of [[Turgon]], had golden hair inherited from her mother, [[Elenwë]] of the Vanyar.

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Fëanor, the eldest Noldorin prince is described as having a "raven-dark" hair.<ref>{{S|Feanor}}</ref> But sons of Fëanor were not all dark-haired: [[Maedhros]] and the twins [[Amrod]] and [[Amras]] had auburn hair, from their grandfather [[Mahtan]]. [[Celegorm]], one of the sons of Fëanor and [[Nerdanel]], had blond hair, thus his epithet ''the Fair'' in contrast to his brother, [[Caranthir]] ''the Dark''. Another Noldo with unusual hair colour was [[Glorfindel]], whose hair is described as of "shining gold" in colour.

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Additionally, a silver hair colour existed in the royal houses of the Sindar, with [[Thingol]], [[Círdan]] and [[Celeborn]] are all described as having silver hair.<ref>{{WJ|Quendi}}: Sindar</ref> [[Galadriel]] displayed an extremely rare hair colour nowhere else observed: "silver-golden" hair, said to be dazzlingly beautiful ("blending the light of the [[Two Trees]], [[Telperion]] and [[Laurelin]]"), which may have been a result of her unusual mixed Noldorin-Vanyarin-Telerin heritage (her mother was the niece of [[Thingol]], and her father was a son of [[Finwë]] and [[Indis]]). [[Thranduil]], father of [[Legolas]] and a Sindarin Elf, is described as having blond ("golden") hair in ''The Hobbit'',<ref>{{H|8}}</ref> but his son Legolas' own hair colour is not recorded. The golden hair colour is sometimes implied among the other Elves. [[Amroth]], a Sindarin Elf of Lórien is one such case, whose hair described as "bright" and shining like a spark of gold in the sun.<ref>{{UT|6}}</ref> In ''The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring'', a very similar reference is made for an [[Galadhrim|Elf of Lothórien]] with a hair "glinted like gold" in the sun.<ref>{{FR|Lorien}}</ref> However, these descriptions can be interpreted differently.

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==Eye colour==

When Tolkien describes Elven eyes, they tend to be grey. This is certainly true of Lúthien (and her descendants: [[Elrond]], Arwen and her brothers, and [[Aragorn]] and the Dúnedain). [[Voronwë]], who guided the man [[Tuor]] to Gondolin, also had grey eyes.

When Tolkien describes Elven eyes, they tend to be grey. This is certainly true of Lúthien (and her descendants: [[Elrond]], Arwen and her brothers, and [[Aragorn]] and the Dúnedain). [[Voronwë]], who guided the man [[Tuor]] to Gondolin, also had grey eyes.

Though he was half-Noldorin, [[Maeglin]] is said to have dark eyes (possibly from his father [[Eöl]], who was not of the Noldor), while [[Olwë]] (the brother of Lúthien's father [[Thingol]], and a Telerin king) had blue eyes. The eye colour of most other Elves is not mentioned, and so would be difficult to generalize.

Though he was half-Noldorin, [[Maeglin]] is said to have dark eyes (possibly from his father [[Eöl]], who was not of the Noldor), while [[Olwë]] (the brother of Lúthien's father [[Thingol]], and a Telerin king) had blue eyes. The eye colour of most other Elves is not mentioned, and so would be difficult to generalize.

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===Androgyny===

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==Other characteristics==

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Because of their (typical) beardlessness and beauty, the Elves are sometimes perceived as androgynous. However, they were probably not meant to be so; Legolas was described in the following way:

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The Elves were like [[Ainur]] in spirit; they loved all beauty of nature, especially water, the [[Sea]] and the [[stars]], since they were the first things they saw; as a consequence [[Ulmo]] and [[Varda]] were the [[Ainur]] closer to them. They were marked for an insatiable curiosity and desire of learning and creating.

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<blockquote>''"He was tall as a young tree, lithe, immensely strong, able swiftly to draw a great war-bow and shoot down a Nazgûl, endowed with the tremendous vitality of Elvish bodies, so hard and resistant to hurt that he went only in light shoes over rock or through snow, the most tireless of all the Fellowship."'' (''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'' Volume 2) </blockquote>

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They detested all evil and usually were incorruptible, to it, unless evil tricked them with fair form, like [[Annatar]]. Conversely, their work harmed evil, like [[lembas]] and the [[Elven rope]] brought pain to [[Gollum]]'s skin.

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The Eldar could manipulate '''''[[sanwe-latya]]''''' ([[Quenya]] for "thought-opening" or "telepathy") which allowed them to communicate with thought ([[Ósanwe]]).

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Elves apparently did not sleep but rested their minds with beautiful thoughts in reverie or looking at fair things.

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Also, unlike Men, Elves were ambidextrous.<ref>{{VT|49a}}</ref>

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{{References|n}}

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[[Category:Elves]]

Revision as of 11:49, 4 March 2013

Last Elf by Piotr Wysocki

The Elves were the fairest creatures in Arda, a far more beautiful race than Men, and generally tall (about six feet). Among them, those who had gone to Valinor were the fairest and had the greatest skill of body.

Elves had keener senses, sight and hearing than Men, were slender, graceful yet strong, but were resistant to extremes of nature, illness and disease. However many Noldor died at the crossings of Helcaraxe.

Practical considerations, including a number of occasions where Men were mistaken for Elves (most notably Túrin Turambar), suggest that the points of difference between Elves and Men, must have been subtle.

Pointed ears

It was stated in early linguistic writings that "the Quendian ears were more pointed and leaf-shaped than Human."[3][4] Answering to a question on Hobbit ears, Tolkien wrote that these were "only slightly pointed and 'elvish'".[5] Some fans take this to mean that Elvish ears were pointed, while others argue that it is an ambiguous statement.[1][2]

Hair colour

Elven hair colour is quite varied and complex. In general, the Vanyar were golden-haired, and the other Elves (including Noldor, Sindar, and Avari) had dark (brown) or even black hair,[6][note 1] although some of the Teleri (including Celeborn) had silver hair. Lúthien Tinúviel and her remote descendant Arwen Undómiel, both described as the fairest of all Elves, were dark haired.

This is not the full picture, however: Míriel Serindë, a Noldo and the first wife of Finwë and mother of Fëanor described as having a silvery hair.[7]Finarfin, the youngest son of Finwë, and his descendants (such as Galadriel) had golden hair on account of Finwë's second wife, Indis of the Vanyar. Idril, the daughter of Turgon, had golden hair inherited from her mother, Elenwë of the Vanyar.
Fëanor, the eldest Noldorin prince is described as having a "raven-dark" hair.[8] But sons of Fëanor were not all dark-haired: Maedhros and the twins Amrod and Amras had auburn hair, from their grandfather Mahtan. Celegorm, one of the sons of Fëanor and Nerdanel, had blond hair, thus his epithet the Fair in contrast to his brother, Caranthirthe Dark. Another Noldo with unusual hair colour was Glorfindel, whose hair is described as of "shining gold" in colour.

Additionally, a silver hair colour existed in the royal houses of the Sindar, with Thingol, Círdan and Celeborn are all described as having silver hair.[9]Galadriel displayed an extremely rare hair colour nowhere else observed: "silver-golden" hair, said to be dazzlingly beautiful ("blending the light of the Two Trees, Telperion and Laurelin"), which may have been a result of her unusual mixed Noldorin-Vanyarin-Telerin heritage (her mother was the niece of Thingol, and her father was a son of Finwë and Indis). Thranduil, father of Legolas and a Sindarin Elf, is described as having blond ("golden") hair in The Hobbit,[10] but his son Legolas' own hair colour is not recorded. The golden hair colour is sometimes implied among the other Elves. Amroth, a Sindarin Elf of Lórien is one such case, whose hair described as "bright" and shining like a spark of gold in the sun.[11] In The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, a very similar reference is made for an Elf of Lothórien with a hair "glinted like gold" in the sun.[12] However, these descriptions can be interpreted differently.

Eye colour

When Tolkien describes Elven eyes, they tend to be grey. This is certainly true of Lúthien (and her descendants: Elrond, Arwen and her brothers, and Aragorn and the Dúnedain). Voronwë, who guided the man Tuor to Gondolin, also had grey eyes.

Though he was half-Noldorin, Maeglin is said to have dark eyes (possibly from his father Eöl, who was not of the Noldor), while Olwë (the brother of Lúthien's father Thingol, and a Telerin king) had blue eyes. The eye colour of most other Elves is not mentioned, and so would be difficult to generalize.

Other characteristics

The Elves were like Ainur in spirit; they loved all beauty of nature, especially water, the Sea and the stars, since they were the first things they saw; as a consequence Ulmo and Varda were the Ainur closer to them. They were marked for an insatiable curiosity and desire of learning and creating.

They detested all evil and usually were incorruptible, to it, unless evil tricked them with fair form, like Annatar. Conversely, their work harmed evil, like lembas and the Elven rope brought pain to Gollum's skin.

The Eldar could manipulate sanwe-latya (Quenya for "thought-opening" or "telepathy") which allowed them to communicate with thought (Ósanwe).

Elves apparently did not sleep but rested their minds with beautiful thoughts in reverie or looking at fair things.